Crafter's Technique Class

Just a quick post tonight, as I have just finished an on-line class on Crafters Anonymous - and I wanted to prove I can use a different stamp!!!  Tonight was a technique class, and we learned the Magic Ink technique. 

I used a combination of Regal Rose and Daffodil Delight on this card.  After embossing the butterflies onto glossy white cardstock, using white embossing powder, I used re-inkers on an alcohol soaked cotton ball to make the background, dabbing it all over the cardstock.  I also used the re-inker to colour a piece of white gross grain ribbon to match, although it has come out a little darker than planned.   

Happy Stamping

Convention Make n Take - Scrapbook Page

As you might know I am not much of a scrapbooker any more, not for a good number of years now.  However one of the make n takes we did at Stampin' Up! Convention was a scrapbook page, and I found a picture that I thought went with the colours of the page.

I really liked the layout of this page, the half scallop circle, the layering of the stamped image behind the circle.  Can you spot the new stamp in the Creative Elements set that has been used on this page?  It's been stamped onto the Old Olive banner at the bottom of the page.  If you look really closely you will spot another two sneak peek products on this page.  The first is the ribbon, it is a Crumb Cake Seam Binding, it is a nice soft product that will be great for making beautiful bows and ruffles on cards and projects.  The other is the little bit of Not Quite Navy peeking out from under the Old Olive banner, this is cut from the Polka Dot Ribbon Punch, it is so cute, punching a strip of "ribbon" with matching scallop edges and a hole punched out of each scallop.  Quite a bit smaller than our current scallop border punch, it is certainly on my wish list.

 

Happy Stamping

Even More Creative Elements

Please let me know if you are getting sick of this set and I will try to post something different, I am just having such a good time playing with it!  This card I made for my ESAD Secret Sister, Jenn Roberts,  I blame give credit to Jenn for making me see how great a colour Baja Breeze truly is, so it was only fitting to make the card in these colours for her.

This is another CASE of the cards on the display boards at Convention, again this time I have made a couple of adjustments, adding the gold embossing to the flourish before punching out with the decorative label punch.  I also ran the VersaMark pen around the edge of the butterfly and embossed in gold - I didn't shake off all the embossing powder on purpose to give the wings a gold speckling. You might need to click on the picture to zoom in to see it properly.  The flourish you can see each side of the punch out is another stamp from the set, you can see both ends of it here - in the centre is a space for putting a sentiment.  I just love how well it fits each side of the decorative label punch.

I like the simple yet effective edging on the card, simply punch a border using the scallop border punch and curl up the edges to give some depth. I also sponged them to add some extra definition.

I really hope you are not tired of this set yet, I have a couple more projects to share with you, and one in mind to show off that flourish frame a bit better.  I also want to post up a couple of the make n takes we did at Convention also.

Happy Stamping

More Creative Elements ...

Anyone would think I like this stamp set!!!  Well I do, and best of all I haven't even shown you all the stamps in the set yet!  Creative Elements will be available in the next Idea Book & Catalogue which for us Aussie and New Zealanders comes out on 1st September, which the way this year is going, is not that far away.

For this card I used a Baja Breeze base card with some Peach Parfait scalloped edge peeping out the bottom.  I have used a masking technique on this one to create a sense of layering of the images.  The secret with this is to stamp the top image first and then work backward.  I have also used the Itty Bitty Button and matching punch to create an embellishment, I love that these little buttons are clear so you can match them to any project just by punching out a coordinating colour and layering it underneath.  Best of all they are still available to purchase in the Cary Over List right up until 31st August.  The Crochet Trim is also an item from the last mini catalogue that is carrying over and still available, here I have used something we were shown at Convention to coordinate it with my card.  You cut a very fine strip of card stock and thread it through the edges of the crochet trim - you may need to enlarge the picture by clicking on it to get a better look.

I hope you are enjoying my sneak peeks, I have certainly had fun making them

Happy Stamping

Fan Favourite At Friday Mashup

This month at Friday Mashup not only do they have great challenges, but they are also calling for a fans of the site to come up with a mashup theme.  How exciting.  I had a long hard think about this one and finally came up with this one.

My Mashup Challenge, would be to:

1. Create a project with a Friend theme.
2. Create a project using a Faux technique.
3. Or "Mash it Up!" and create a Friend themed project that uses a Faux technique!

A great place to start for faux techniques is over at Split Coast Stampers.

I am glad to be back on track and have a chance to have my challenge picked. 

Happy Stamping

Challenges Past & Present ...

I have actually missed the last two Friday Mashups!  Having been a Guest Designer for May I feel quite bad that I didn't get to put in an entry for the last two Mashups, especially since I had actually made a project for one of them!!!  Luckily I am back on track.  I thought I would still share with you the one I missed, and then the current one.   The one I missed was the Colourful Kids Challenge ...

I have to say I am cranky at myself for not getting this posted in time - it was a bit of a struggle for me to complete the project having found I don't have any "kid" stamps and these are just not my usual colours!  However I did get the project done in time but was waiting for some sunny weather to take a decent picture, and here in Canberra in winter that is not such an easy thing.  At least I can now take pics at night with my new natural light lamp!  Anyway onto my attempt ... not a card this time but rather a little decorated dvd box.  I hope we get these empty cases in our next Idea Book & Catalogue here in Australia, they are so great.

This is the outside of the case.  I used the Colour Collections Stack of dsp and made the binding with the Daffodil Delight.  The little owl was just too cute not to put on the front of this one.  The idea of the parachute was from a Secret Santa gift I received last year, and I think it just looks really adorable.  My daughter however took one look and said "why would an owl need a parachute? Owls have wings!"

 Inside the case I put a matching decorated notebook and two matching mini gel pens.  My plan for this was to give it to my sister to keep in her hand bag for those times when they are out shopping and my adorable little niece is being not so adorable!  I am thinking of doing up one for my own handbag to keep a notebook and pen handy and neat and tidy. 

Now onto this week's challenge

The challenge this week was to

1. Create a Summer Theme Project
2. Create a project using Polka Dots
3. Or Mash It Up and create a Summer Themed Project using Polka Dots

I decided, as usual to go for the Mashup.   I picked nice summery colours Melon Mambo and Peach Parfait and used the Eastern Blooms set to make the feature flowers and to make the matching background paper.  The sentiment is from the Short & Sweet stamp set, I love this little set, great little sentiments that go with so many projects, and fit inside the word window punch (not used here).  The polka dots are a bit of a stretch but if you look closely at the centre of each flower you will see that they are covered in polka dots! 

I am also entering this card in the Stamping 411 sketch challenge this week.

Pop over to both sites and see what others have done with these challenges, let them know what you think when you visit their blogs.  I love comments too so please let me know what you think of my creations.

Happy Stamping

Another Convention CASE

I wanted to show off another CASE from the display boards at Convention.  This one again uses the Creative Elements set, and isn't the butterfly just to die for?  I liked the simplicity of this card when I first saw it on the display board, and it is one that I think I will do again with different colour combinations. 

This card uses Melon Mambo and Peach Parfait card stock and ink with the addition of Marina Mist ink for the third butterfly.  So bright and cheery, just what I need in this cold weather we have been having of late.  I might well use these colours in this weeks Friday Mashup challenge ... you will just have to pop back over the weekend and see what I have come up with.  Keep an eye out also for some of my other creations with this great set.

Happy Stamping

One CASE Two Colours

Hi again.  Today I wanted to share with you two cards I made which were CASEd off the display boards at Convention.  I find when mojo is running low CASEing is a good way to get back on track.  CASE of course stands for Copy And Share Everything, of course making sure to give the original artist the credit for the idea.  Now because these were on the display board I can't say who the original designer was I am assuming someone from Head Office.

This is the one that was a reasonably close CASE, although I changed the dimensions of the card from the original but kept the layout and colours.  I used the Creative Elements set again, and the sentiment comes from another new set called "It's Your Day", a simple set with two sentiments.  The flower I have stamped Melon Mambo onto Blushing Bride and cut out in layers and adhered with a glue dot, then a pearl in the centre to finish it off.  If you look closely you will see some of the flourish stamp have been coloured in subtly - for this I used the Stampin' Pastels to carefully add just a touch of colour.  The flourish is yet another stamp in the Creative Elements set.

This is my second take on the card.  This time I started by using the Stampin' Pastels just for some fun and then decided to pair that up with more earthy tones, Choc Chip, More Mustard and Soft Suede.  I really like how the flower turned out on this one, and the layering gives nice dimension to the card.  To cut a neat "V" in the sentiment attachment I used the square corner of my Tag Punch, it is a great way to get a neat end to these.   The More Mustard is punched with the Scallop Border Punch and using the Paper Piercer to add the holes in each scallop.

 

Happy Stamping

Hope it's worth the wait

Well it's been a while since I posted, I have had a bit of a lack of mojo of late, not sure why but I think the drought is over, or at least I have had some mojo rain!  I want to share a couple of cards today, one by me and one by another lovely stamper.

First one is my online class project at Crafter's Anonymous this week.  It was a two part class, first the easy part, we made the cute little box.  Great size for cards or to store photos ready to scrapbook.  Mine is currently empty but I hope to fill it up soon.  I used Old Olive and stamped it with one of the stamps from Creative Elements, a beautiful set we got at Stampin' Up! Convention this year - it really is full of creative elements, 8 in all.  I have used the flower and the "No. 3" from the set.  The second part of the project was the bow on the band around the box.  Now let me tell you it was no mean feat getting this right in an online class!  So glad I persisted because I was really pleased with the outcome, and I will make more in the future.

The second card I wanted to post today arrived in the mail from Rebecca Tipace, she is another Stampin Up! Demonstrator who is on a RAK list with me.  RAK stands for Random Acts of Kindness, we send each other cards and small things in the mail.  It is so nice to open the letter box and get a nice surprise instead of just window envelopes.  I love the way she has used the Cute By The Inch stamp and the matching punch to make the note and envelope.  I love the colours and it was really nice to get this one.

I have a few more posts scheduled over the next week to showcase some more samples with the Creative Elements set, so stay tuned for a sneak peek - it will be available for purchase when the new Idea Book & Catalogue comes out in September.

Happy Stamping